What is the cost of living in River Falls, WI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, River Falls has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Wisconsin, River Falls has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Wisconsin's index of 98.
The standard of living in River Falls ranks as #97 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies River Falls ranks as the #49 most expensive place in the Badger State.
For more reading on life in River Falls, check out:
River Falls Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in River Falls. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in River Falls is 102.
The Groceries index in River Falls is 100.
The Health index in River Falls is 117.
The Housing index in River Falls is 96.
The Transportation index in River Falls is 106.
The Utilities index in River Falls is 97.
| Living Expense | River Falls | Wisconsin | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 117 | 91 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 100 | 100 |
River Falls Cost Of Living Compared To Wisconsin Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in River Falls Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
River Falls, WI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Wisconsin, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in River Falls is $406,768.
The Median Rent in River Falls is $1,107.
The Median Income in River Falls is $83,627.
The Home Value To Income in River Falls is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in River Falls is 0.16x.
| Statistic | River Falls | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $406,768 | $330,171 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,107 | $1,087 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $83,627 | $77,485 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 4.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
River Falls, WI Costs By Category
Detailed River Falls Services costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | River Falls | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.3 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.47 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $34.55 | $45.56 |
Detailed River Falls Groceries costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | River Falls | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.49 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.35 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.36 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed River Falls Health costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | River Falls | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $145.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $229.08 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed River Falls Transportation costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | River Falls | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.74 | $59.92 |
Detailed River Falls Utilities costs vs. Wisconsin
| Item | River Falls | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $175.38 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.39 | $192.25 |
River Falls SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around River Falls
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around River Falls. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Woodbury, MN has a cost of living index of 120, 1.2x River Falls.
Cottage Grove, MN has a cost of living index of 115, 1.1x River Falls.
Oakdale, MN has a cost of living index of 109, 1.1x River Falls.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. River Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury, MN | 78,305 | 120 | 1.2x |
| Cottage Grove, MN | 40,992 | 115 | 1.1x |
| Oakdale, MN | 28,585 | 109 | 1.1x |
| Hastings, MN | 22,117 | 105 | 1.0x |
| Stillwater, MN | 19,355 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Red Wing, MN | 16,758 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Hudson, WI | 14,959 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Lake Elmo, MN | 13,140 | 132 | 1.3x |
| New Richmond, WI | 10,539 | 102 | 1.0x |
| St. Paul Park, MN | 5,457 | 103 | 1.0x |
